Poison (5/2/11)
Kristin Good: In the short story "Poison" by Roald Dahl, there are many examples of symbolism and many different themes. The line that says "Why, you dirt little Hindu sewer rat!" (Para. 34 line 1). This is an example of racism which acts like a theme in this short story. The importance of this theme is showing that all the time the doctor was helping Harry, he was fine. But right when the doctor questions Harry, he is less of a person. The impact shows the author breaking in racism to show how some people act toward people that might look different. A symbol used in this short story is the krait, which stands for fear. Although the krait was not there, Harry was scared for his life. The fear of the thought got to him and caused all the drama of that night.
"The Scarlet Ibis"
AJ Fuller: In this short story by James Hurst, there are many symbols throughout the story. One symbol is Old Woman Swamp. This is basically where Doodle and his brother spent their entire lives. This was also the most important thing in their lives too. This is where Doodle first learned to walk. After he learned to walk, his brother decided to come up with a plan to make him like the others. He pushed Doodle very hard in order to complete the program. After a while, it just became to much for Doodle he became sick and weak. On the last day before school, they went out to try and complete the program. A storm rolled along and his brother left Doodle behind, which eventually led to his death. Doodle died because him learning how to walk at Old Woman Swamp, encouraged his brother to create a plan for him to be like the others. Another symbol is the Scarlet Ibis. This bird was found in their yard and soon died. It's feathers were red and it couldn't fly. This bird represents Doodle. Doodle had red skin and wasn't able to do the things a normal human could do. He tried to become like the others, but like the bird he died. The author also included a theme. I think the theme was selfishness. Doodles brother tried to make him like the other kids for himself, and not for Doodle. He didn't want to have a brother that was invalid and not "all there". Throughout the story, Doodle was pushed very hard to become like everyone else. Eventually it became to much. He died because he was trying to keep up with his brother, but his brother left him behind because he didn't want to stop, and he wanted to get out of the storm. Doodle pushed himself because his brother made him. On top of that, Doodle was pushed because his brother didn't want an invalid brother, not because his brother wanted the best for him.
"The Necklace"
Spencer Goldstein: The short story "The Necklace" By Guy de Maupassant is littered with symbols and themes. One obvious symbol is the necklace itself. The necklace represents greed. Mine. Loisel did not have a lot of extraemities and lived pretty basic. On the night of the party she said that she needed a necklace to go with her gorgeous, expensive dress. She already had a very expensive and elegant dress, however, she felt that she needed more. I think that sinse she had a taste of beauty and elegance once with the dress, she just wanted more. That is what the necklace represents. Her need to have the best once she has a taste of it. This also parallels into a theme of the short story. The theme is that greed is contagious and the more it is applied the more consiquences are in result. For example, Mine. Loisel never even owned a dress before she was invited to the palace. Once she is invited she feels greedy in herself to be as elegant as possible. So she demands an expensive dress when she could just wear a dress that she already has. Her husband even states that she should wear that dress because HE thinks she would look beautiful. When she demands an expensive dress, she is saying that she wants to be better than everyone at the party. Which is why she is so greedy; she could just be beautiful for the man that counts, her husband. That wasn't enough however. She said that she had to have a necklace because the dress looked bare without jewelry. More greed, she thinks that she has to have all these extra, non-essential things to be the "star of the show" persay. This is where the consiquences come into play. Sinse she wants this beauty, she borrows a forty thousand franc diamond necklace from her friend. Now, borrowing something that expensive is risky. She knows that she does not have the money to afford it if she lost it, yet her greed demands that she is gorgeous at all costs.
Harrison Bergeron
Camille Lemke
This short story is full of examples of theme and symbolism. First, this whole story is a symbol of "equality" because everybody was handicapped to be "equal." It is kind of a mixed symbol because it is more important in this society to have no competition than to have people be able to embrace their different skills and qualities. It is depressing that the people of the story are not made eqaul, but are oppressed. The handicaps, and masks symbolize this oppresion because it harms each individual more than it benefits the society. An important theme for people today is to not oppress differences because this story could be the future. It is extremely important that readers can see this and relearn that uniqueness is a good thing. Because without it our world would be a very different place.
Lit Terms A:
Poison (5/2/11)
Kristin Good: In the short story "Poison" by Roald Dahl, there are many examples of symbolism and many different themes. The line that says "Why, you dirt little Hindu sewer rat!" (Para. 34 line 1). This is an example of racism which acts like a theme in this short story. The importance of this theme is showing that all the time the doctor was helping Harry, he was fine. But right when the doctor questions Harry, he is less of a person. The impact shows the author breaking in racism to show how some people act toward people that might look different. A symbol used in this short story is the krait, which stands for fear. Although the krait was not there, Harry was scared for his life. The fear of the thought got to him and caused all the drama of that night.
"The Scarlet Ibis"
AJ Fuller: In this short story by James Hurst, there are many symbols throughout the story. One symbol is Old Woman Swamp. This is basically where Doodle and his brother spent their entire lives. This was also the most important thing in their lives too. This is where Doodle first learned to walk. After he learned to walk, his brother decided to come up with a plan to make him like the others. He pushed Doodle very hard in order to complete the program. After a while, it just became to much for Doodle he became sick and weak. On the last day before school, they went out to try and complete the program. A storm rolled along and his brother left Doodle behind, which eventually led to his death. Doodle died because him learning how to walk at Old Woman Swamp, encouraged his brother to create a plan for him to be like the others. Another symbol is the Scarlet Ibis. This bird was found in their yard and soon died. It's feathers were red and it couldn't fly. This bird represents Doodle. Doodle had red skin and wasn't able to do the things a normal human could do. He tried to become like the others, but like the bird he died. The author also included a theme. I think the theme was selfishness. Doodles brother tried to make him like the other kids for himself, and not for Doodle. He didn't want to have a brother that was invalid and not "all there". Throughout the story, Doodle was pushed very hard to become like everyone else. Eventually it became to much. He died because he was trying to keep up with his brother, but his brother left him behind because he didn't want to stop, and he wanted to get out of the storm. Doodle pushed himself because his brother made him. On top of that, Doodle was pushed because his brother didn't want an invalid brother, not because his brother wanted the best for him.
"The Necklace"
Spencer Goldstein: The short story "The Necklace" By Guy de Maupassant is littered with symbols and themes. One obvious symbol is the necklace itself. The necklace represents greed. Mine. Loisel did not have a lot of extraemities and lived pretty basic. On the night of the party she said that she needed a necklace to go with her gorgeous, expensive dress. She already had a very expensive and elegant dress, however, she felt that she needed more. I think that sinse she had a taste of beauty and elegance once with the dress, she just wanted more. That is what the necklace represents. Her need to have the best once she has a taste of it. This also parallels into a theme of the short story. The theme is that greed is contagious and the more it is applied the more consiquences are in result. For example, Mine. Loisel never even owned a dress before she was invited to the palace. Once she is invited she feels greedy in herself to be as elegant as possible. So she demands an expensive dress when she could just wear a dress that she already has. Her husband even states that she should wear that dress because HE thinks she would look beautiful. When she demands an expensive dress, she is saying that she wants to be better than everyone at the party. Which is why she is so greedy; she could just be beautiful for the man that counts, her husband. That wasn't enough however. She said that she had to have a necklace because the dress looked bare without jewelry. More greed, she thinks that she has to have all these extra, non-essential things to be the "star of the show" persay. This is where the consiquences come into play. Sinse she wants this beauty, she borrows a forty thousand franc diamond necklace from her friend. Now, borrowing something that expensive is risky. She knows that she does not have the money to afford it if she lost it, yet her greed demands that she is gorgeous at all costs.
Harrison Bergeron
Camille Lemke
This short story is full of examples of theme and symbolism. First, this whole story is a symbol of "equality" because everybody was handicapped to be "equal." It is kind of a mixed symbol because it is more important in this society to have no competition than to have people be able to embrace their different skills and qualities. It is depressing that the people of the story are not made eqaul, but are oppressed. The handicaps, and masks symbolize this oppresion because it harms each individual more than it benefits the society. An important theme for people today is to not oppress differences because this story could be the future. It is extremely important that readers can see this and relearn that uniqueness is a good thing. Because without it our world would be a very different place.